Zion, a suburb north of Chicago,has a Festival of Lights Christmas display that should not be missed if you're in the area. Kringle's Kingdom is my favorite part. With 75 displays like the ones below, all lit up and surrounded by Chirstmas trees decorated with multi-colored lights, probably hundreds in all, and a few surprises along the way, it is fun for all ages. |
The only thing that can improve Kringle's Kingdom, which the town of Zion has no control over, is the natural enhancement of fresh snow. |
Snow so fresh, the reindeer haven't shaken it off yet. |
This is a common Christmas scene, though it truly boggles my mind. |
Polar bears covered in snow just seems right. |
The path you walk from one display to the next is just magical. |
Some of Mrs. Claus' many preparations. |
Occasionally the snow obliterates parts of the display, but it's no less beautiful. |
In Kringle's Kingdom, Elmo has an ice cream shop! |
Oooh, twinkley lights. |
Even the North Pole has a jewelry store. |
Old traditions and new ones came together flawlessly. |
Santa's reindeer stable, where Rudolph still is the star of the show. |
A Christmas wedding. |
The best present you can give someone: puppies! |
Lights everywhere. |
Of course I just wanted to move into the Kingdom Library. |
The incredible amount of detail and effort that went into displays like this one, depicting two people rummaging through an attic, was just amazing. |
This one was called "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus." Check out the details, like the bears in the family portraits above the fireplace. |
A Grinch Grocery store is great. Hey, where's Max? |
One of my favorites was the reindeer beauty salon, although they were all absolutely fabulous. |
In addition to Kringle's Kingdom, the Festival of Lights includes a drive-through light display, an ice skating rink, trolley rides around downtown Zion, and an enormous, light-up storybook that tells the story Twas the Night Before Christmas. I cannot wait to return! |